Determining whether a memory cell state is in a valley between adjacent data states

ABSTRACT

A determination can be made as to whether a state of a memory cell is in a valley between adjacent distributions of states associated with respective data states. A signal indicative of a data state of the memory cell and whether the state of the memory cell is in the valley can be transmitted.

PRIORITY INFORMATION

This application is a Divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/566,180filed Aug. 3, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,064,575, which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to semiconductor memory andmethods, and more particularly, to apparatuses and methods related to amemory cell state in a valley between adjacent data states.

BACKGROUND

Memory devices are typically provided as internal, semiconductor,integrated circuits in computers or other electronic devices. There aremany different types of memory including volatile and non-volatilememory. Volatile memory can require power to maintain its data (e.g.,host data, error information, etc.) and includes random-access memory(RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), and synchronous dynamicrandom access memory (SDRAM), among others. Non-volatile memory canprovide persistent data by retaining stored data when not powered andcan include NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, read only memory (ROM),Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM (EEPROM), Erasable ProgrammableROM (EPROM), and resistance variable memory such as phase change randomaccess memory (PCRAM), resistive random access memory (RRAM), andmagnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), among others.

Flash memory devices can include a charge storage structure, such as isincluded in floating gate flash devices and charge trap flash (CTF)devices, which may be utilized as non-volatile memory for a wide rangeof electronic applications. Flash memory devices may use aone-transistor memory cell that allows for high memory densities, highreliability, and low power consumption.

Memory cells in an array architecture can be programmed to a targetstate. For example, electric charge can be placed on or removed from thefloating gate of a memory cell to put the cell into one of a number ofdata states. For example, a single level cell (SLC) can be programmed toone of two data states representing one of two units of data (e.g., 1 or0). Multilevel memory cells (MLCs) can be programmed to one of more thantwo data states. For example, an MLC capable of storing two units ofdata can be programmed to one of four data states, an MLC capable ofstoring three units of data can be programmed to one of eight datastates, and an MLC capable of storing four units of data can beprogrammed to one of sixteen data states. MLCs can allow the manufactureof higher density memories without increasing the number of memory cellssince each cell can represent more than one unit of data (e.g., morethan one bit). However, MLCs can present difficulties with respect tosensing operations as the ability to distinguish between adjacent datastates may deteriorate over time and/or operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a portion of a non-volatilememory array in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of adjacent distributions of statesassociated with respective data states and a valley therebetween inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a memory apparatus operated inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a compression table correlating entropy encoded unitsof data and data states in accordance with a number of embodiments ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a tabular representation of transmissions of variousentropy encoded units of data corresponding to various data states andwhether states stored on various memory cells are in a valley and/orwithin an outer portion of the distribution of states in accordance witha number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a plot illustrating codeword error rate (CWER) versus raw biterror rate (RBER) according to various approaches including at least onein accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Memory devices can include error correction circuitry (e.g.,implementing an error correction code (ECC)) to correct for errors insensing the data state of a memory cell. Some error correction circuitrymay operate more effectively with soft data. Hard data is data thatcorresponds only to the data state of a memory cell. For example, a2-bit memory cell can be programmed to one of four data states, whereeach data state corresponds to one of hard data 00, 01, 10, or 11. Incontrast, soft data associated with a memory cell can indicate alocation of a state (e.g., threshold voltage (Vt)) stored on the memorycell within a distribution of states (e.g., Vt distribution)representing the target state to which the memory cell was programmed.Additionally, soft data associated with a memory cell can indicate aprobability of whether the state of the memory cell corresponds to thetarget state to which the memory cell was programmed. However,transferring soft data along with hard data can decrease bandwidth.

The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related tomemory cell state in a valley between adjacent data states. A number ofmethods can include determining whether a state of a memory cell is in avalley between adjacent distributions of states associated withrespective data states. The method can include transmitting a signalindicative of a data state of the memory cell and whether the state ofthe memory cell is in the valley.

Although the examples primarily discussed herein focus on the use ofcharge storage states as data states and the use of charge stored on amemory cell as a stored state of the memory cell, the present disclosurecan also be used with embodiments that use other physical properties ofa memory cell to represent data states. For example, other data statescould include, but are not limited to, electrical resistance states,optical resistance states, etc.

In the following detailed description of the present disclosure,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration how one or more embodimentsof the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art topractice the embodiments of this disclosure, and it is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and that process, electrical,and/or structural changes may be made without departing from the scopeof the present disclosure. As used herein, the designators “N”, “M”, and“P”, particularly with respect to reference numerals in the drawings,indicates that a number of the particular feature so designated can beincluded. As used herein, “a number of” a particular thing can refer toone or more of such things (e.g., a number of memory devices can referto one or more memory devices).

The figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the firstdigit or digits correspond to the drawing figure number and theremaining digits identify an element or component in the drawing.Similar elements or components between different figures may beidentified by the use of similar digits. For example, 111-1 mayreference element “11” in FIG. 1, and a similar element may bereferenced as 311 in FIG. 3. As will be appreciated, elements shown inthe various embodiments herein can be added, exchanged, and/oreliminated so as to provide a number of additional embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In addition, as will be appreciated, the proportionand the relative scale of the elements provided in the figures areintended to illustrate certain embodiments of the present invention, andshould not be taken in a limiting sense.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a portion of a non-volatilememory array in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates a NAND architecturenon-volatile memory array. However, embodiments described herein are notlimited to this example. As shown in FIG. 1, the memory array 100includes access lines (e.g., word lines 105-1, . . . , 105-N) andintersecting data lines (e.g., local bit lines 107-1, 107-2, 107-3, . .. , 107-M). For ease of addressing in the digital environment, thenumber of word lines 105-1, . . . , 105-N and the number of local bitlines 107-1, 107-2, 107-3, . . . , 107-M can be some power of two (e.g.,256 word lines by 4,096 bit lines).

Memory array 100 includes NAND strings 109-1, 109-2, 109-3, . . . ,109-M. Each NAND string includes non-volatile memory cells 111-1, . . ., 111-N, each communicatively coupled to a respective word line 105-1, .. . , 105-N. Each NAND string (and its constituent memory cells) is alsoassociated with a local bit line 107-1, 107-2, 107-3, . . . , 107-M. Thememory cells 111-1, . . . , 111-N of each NAND string 109-1, 109-2,109-3, . . . , 109-M are coupled in series source to drain between asource select gate (SGS) (e.g., a field-effect transistor (FET) 113) anda drain select gate (SGD) (e.g., FET 119). Each source select gate 113is configured to selectively couple a respective NAND string to a commonsource 123 responsive to a signal on source select line 117, while eachdrain select gate 119 is configured to selectively couple a respectiveNAND string to a respective bit line responsive to a signal on drainselect line 115.

As shown in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a source of sourceselect gate 113 is coupled to a common source line 123. The drain ofsource select gate 113 is coupled to the source of the memory cell 111-1of the corresponding NAND string 109-1. The drain of drain select gate119 is coupled to bit line 107-1 of the corresponding NAND string 109-1at drain contact 121-1. The source of drain select gate 119 is coupledto the drain of the last memory cell 111-N (e.g., a floating-gatetransistor) of the corresponding NAND string 109-1.

In a number of embodiments, construction of the non-volatile memorycells 111-1, . . . , 111-N includes a source, a drain, a floating gateor other charge storage structure, and a control gate. The memory cells111-1, . . . , 111-N have their control gates coupled to a word line,105-1, . . . , 105-N, respectively. A NOR array architecture would besimilarly laid out, except that the string of memory cells would becoupled in parallel between the select gates. Furthermore, a NORarchitecture can provide for random access (e.g., sensing) to the memorycells in the array (e.g., as opposed to page-based access as with a NANDarchitecture).

A number (e.g., a subset or all) of cells coupled to a selected wordline (e.g., 105-1, . . . , 105-N) can be programmed and/or sensed (e.g.,read) together as a group. A number of cells programmed and/or sensedtogether can correspond to a page of data. In association with a sensingoperation, a number of cells coupled to a particular word line andprogrammed together to respective charge storage states can be referredto as a target page. A programming operation (e.g., a write operation)can include applying a number of program pulses (e.g., 16V-20V) to aselected word line in order to increase the threshold voltage (Vt) ofselected cells coupled to that selected access line to a desired programvoltage level corresponding to a targeted charge storage state.

A sensing operation, such as a read or program verify operation, caninclude sensing a voltage and/or current change of a bit line coupled toa selected cell in order to determine the charge storage state of theselected cell. The sensing operation can include precharging a bit lineand sensing the discharge when a selected cell begins to conduct. Twodifferent types of sensing operations are described below (e.g., thoseusing a ramping sensing signal versus using a plurality of discretesensing signals).

Sensing the state of a selected cell can include providing a rampingsensing signal (e.g., −2V to +3V) to a selected word line, whileproviding a signal (e.g., a pass voltage such as 4.5V) to word linescoupled to the unselected cells of the string sufficient to place theunselected cells in a conducting state independent of the charge storedon the unselected cells. Alternatively, sensing the state of a selectedcell could include applying discrete sensing voltages, e.g., −0.05V,0.5V, and 2V, to a selected word line, and thus to the control gate of aselected cell. The bit line corresponding to the selected cell beingread and/or verified can be sensed to determine whether or not theselected cell conducts in response to the particular sensing signalapplied to the selected word line. For example, the charge storage stateof a selected cell can be determined by the word line voltage at whichthe bit line current reaches a particular reference current associatedwith a particular state.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of adjacent distributions 203-1, 203-2 ofstates associated with respective data states and a valley 201therebetween in accordance with a number of embodiments of the presentdisclosure. The x-axis (with labels from 0-80) represents a unitlessmagnitude of the state of memory cells. The y-axis (with labels from0-0.14) represents a percentage of memory cells that are programmed to aparticular state. The adjacent distributions of states 203-1, 203-2represent a statistical distribution of memory cells and theirassociated states for each of two data states. That is, the firstdistribution of states 203-1 corresponds to a first data state and thesecond distribution of states 203-2 corresponds to a second data state.

As is illustrated, each distribution of states 203-1, 203-2 has a peaknear its center, for example at a target state for each data state, andtrails off on either side of the peak. Between adjacent distributions ofstates is a valley 201 where states corresponding to differentdistributions of states 203-1, 203-2 overlap. Thus, without knowingmore, a memory cell storing a state between, for example, 33-40 may havehad a target state associated with either of the distributions of states203-1, 203-1. Knowing an exact value of the state of a particular memorycell (e.g., state 224-1 or state 224-2) may aid error correctioncircuitry in determining which data state was the target for the memorycell. However, as described herein, transferring units of data thatprovide such a level of detail may create a significant throughputpenalty across an interface. Accordingly, a number of embodiments of thepresent disclosure provide an indication of whether the state is in thevalley 201 (e.g., without data indicating a more specific magnitude ofthe state, such as may be provided by soft data) along with the harddata representing the data state of the memory cell.

As described in more detail herein, such an indication of whether thestate of the memory cell is in the valley 201 can be indicated via anentropy coding scheme for those units that are output for the memorycell. For example, a length of an entropy encoded number of units ofdata can indicate whether the state is in the valley 201 or a particularcombination of entropy encoded units of data can indicate whether thestate is in the valley 201, among other examples.

In some embodiments, the indication of whether the state of the memorycell is in the valley 201 can comprise an extra unit (e.g., a flag). Theextra unit can be transmitted as part of a signal comprising a pluralityof units of data corresponding directly to the data state of the memorycell. The plurality of units of data corresponding directly to the datastate of the memory cell can comprise hard data.

With respect to one of the distributions of states 203-1, adetermination can be made (e.g., by sensing circuitry) as to whether astate 224-1 is within an outer portion of the distribution 203-1 (e.g.,at a particular distance from either side of the peak). For example, anouter portion of the distribution 203-1 can include those states outsideof two standard deviations from the peak, however embodiments are not solimited. Sensing circuitry can be configured to determine whether astate is within an outer portion of a distribution and to transmit anindication of the same. The indication of whether the state is within anouter portion of the distribution can be analogous to the indicationthat the state is within the valley 201, as described herein. Forexample, the indication can be transmitted to entropy coding circuitry.The boundaries of the outer portion can be a programmable option for thesensing circuitry. Examples of the boundaries of the outer portion caninclude various numbers of standard deviations from the peak, variousranges of magnitudes of states, and various percentages of overlap withan adjacent distribution, among others. With respect to the distribution203-1 illustrated in FIG. 2, the outer portion on the right side of thepeak can, for example, be defined to include those states to the rightof the state 224-1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a memory apparatus operated inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.According to some embodiments, a memory apparatus can be, for example, amemory device 325, a controller 327, or a combination of the memorydevice 325 and the controller 327. Although not specificallyillustrated, the controller 327 can include a number of processorsand/or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) to providememory control functionality. The controller 327 and/or variouscomponents thereof can be on a same die as the memory device 325, can beon a different die than the memory device 325, but in a same module, orcan be in a memory system, e.g., a solid state drive, which includesboth the memory device 325 and the controller 327. The memory device 325can include a number of memory cells 311 (e.g., in a memory array suchas memory array 100 illustrated in FIG. 1).

The memory device 325 can include sensing circuitry 329 (e.g., toreceive and decode address signals by a row decoder and/or a columndecoder to access the memory array including memory cells 311). In someembodiments, the sensing circuitry can include an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC). A ramping sensing signal can be output to the ADC(e.g., via a ramping sensing signal generator) and to a number of memorycells 311 (e.g., via a row decoder). In a number of embodiments, theramping sensing signal can increase in magnitude with a linear slopefrom a starting magnitude to a stopping magnitude over a period of time.The starting and stopping magnitudes can be selected to encompass therange of states to which memory cells 311 in a given array can beprogrammed (e.g., −2V to +3V). In this manner, the ramping sensingsignal can provide sensing capability for any data state of a selectedmemory cell with a single input. The ramping period of the signal can beselected to balance efficient sensing speeds with accurate detection ofa state of the memory cell. When sufficient current flows through anassociated sense line (e.g., sufficient to trip a sense amplifier) avalue of the output of the ADC that receives input from the rampingsensing signal can be latched (e.g., in latches 331).

The ADC may function similarly to a counter over the period of timeduring which the ramping sensing signal changes. The ADC can beconfigured to output a value representing the state of the memory cellwith a greater number of units than the number of units of data thatrepresent the data state of the memory cell 311. For example, the ADCcan be configured to output seven units (e.g., bits) for a particularmemory cell 311 that is configured to store a state corresponding tothree units (or another number of units). Thus, the output from the ADCcan represent a more specific measurement of the state of the memorycell than is represented by the data state alone. As described herein,the three units corresponding to the data state comprise hard data,while the remaining four units can comprise soft data, for instance.

The soft data may be valuable for error correction circuitry 353 to aidin determining whether a correct data state was sensed from the memorycell 311. However, transferring seven units for every memory cell may bea significant throughput penalty versus transferring just the threeunits of hard data for each memory cell (in the example case of memorycells storing three units of data). Thus, according to a number ofembodiments of the present disclosure, the extra units of soft data arenot transferred across the interface 343. Rather, a determination can bemade as to whether the state of the memory cell (e.g., as represented bythe output of the ADC) is in a valley between adjacent distributions ofstates associated with respective data states and/or whether the stateof the memory cell is within an outer portion of a distribution ofstates associated with a data state of the memory cell.

The ADC can be configured to output x-number of units of data (e.g.,seven units of data) representing the state of the memory cell. However,the sensing circuitry 329 can be configured to output (e.g., to theentropy coding circuitry 341) fewer than x-number units of data (e.g.,three units of data) representing the data state of the memory cell tothe entropy coding circuitry 341. The x-number of units of data can beoutput from each of the latches 331 to level map circuitry 333-1, . . ., 333-P to determine a data state of the memory cell (e.g., determine towhat level the memory cell was programmed). The level map circuitry333-1, . . . , 333-P can correlate x-number units of data with aplurality of distributions of states associated with a plurality of datastates.

The sensing circuitry 329 can be configured to provide the indication ofwhether the state of the memory cell is in the valley and/or whether thestate of the memory cell is within the outer portion of the distributionof states based on the x-number units of data and the level mapcircuitry 333-1, . . . , 333-P. For example, the x-number units of datacan also be output to valley check circuitry 335-1, . . . , 335-P todetermine whether the state of the memory cell is in a valley betweenadjacent distributions of states associated with respective data statesand/or whether the state of the memory cell is within an outer portionof a distribution of states associated with a data state of the memorycell.

In general, there may be a non-uniform distribution of memory cellshaving states in the valley and/or having states within an outer portionof the distribution of states. That is, most cells may have states thatare well within the distribution of states such that it is clear towhich data state the memory cell was programmed. For each memory cell311, the sensing circuitry 329 can determine a data state (e.g., level337-1, . . . , 337-P, which may comprise hard data) and indicate to theentropy coding circuitry 341 (e.g., via indication 339-1, . . . , 339-P)whether the state of the memory cell is in a valley and/or whether thestate of the memory cell is within an outer portion of a distribution ofstates. Although not specifically illustrated, the memory device 325 canbe configured to encode the data state (e.g., using a low density paritycheck encoding algorithm).

Entropy coding circuitry 341 can provide a lossless data compressionscheme. For example, the entropy coding circuitry 341 can provideHuffman coding. An example of a compression table is provided in FIG. 4and an example application of the coding scheme to data is provided inFIG. 5. The entropy coding circuitry 341 can make use of a compressiontable correlating data states with entropy encoded units of data. Thecompression table can include variable-length entropy encoded units ofdata (e.g., codes) that are derived based on an estimated probability ofthe occurrence of each combination of data state and whether the stateis in a valley and/or within an outer portion of a distribution ofstates. For example, there may be an equal probability that a particularmemory cell is programmed to any one of the possible data states given asufficient amount of data. The probability that a particular memory cellhas a state in a valley may be relatively low (e.g., 5%). Theprobability that a particular memory cell has a state in a valley mayincrease over the lifetime (e.g., age and/or cycles) of the memorydevice 325. Accordingly, the entropy coding circuitry can provide ashorter code length in response to the state of the memory cell notbeing in a valley and a longer code length in response to a state of thememory cell being in a valley.

The entropy coding circuitry 341 can encode the output of the sensingcircuitry 329 and transmit the encoded output via an interface 343 tothe controller 327. In some examples the interface 343 can be an OpenNAND Flash Interface (ONFI) compliant interface. The encoded output ofthe sensing circuitry 329 can comprise a signal indicative of a datastate of the memory cell and whether the state of the memory cell is inthe valley and/or whether the state is within an outer portion of adistribution of states. In some embodiments, the length of the encodedoutput can provide the indication of whether the state is in the valleyand/or within an outer portion of a distribution of states (e.g., asindicated by a longer code length relative to the state not being in thevalley for a same data state as is described in more detail with respectto FIG. 4). A greater number of units of data output from the entropycoding circuitry 341 for a particular data state of a particular memorycell can indicate that the state of the particular memory cell is in thevalley.

The controller 327 can include entropy decoding circuitry 345, which canbe coupled to the interface 343 of the memory device 325. The entropydecoding circuitry can receive the output of the entropy codingcircuitry 341 from the memory device 325 and decode the same. Forexample, the entropy decoding circuitry 345 can provide Huffmandecoding. The entropy decoding circuitry 345 can determine a length ofthe variable-length code comprising the entropy coded data statedeterministically (e.g., based on a lack of prefix repetition across thevariable-length codes as illustrated and described in more detail withrespect to FIG. 4). The entropy decoding circuitry 345 can decode theentropy coded data state from the variable-length code and provide anindication of whether the state is in the valley and/or within an outerportion of the distribution of states to the error correction circuitry351 (e.g., via the reliability calculation circuitry 351). In a numberof embodiments, the reliability calculation circuitry 351, itself, canprovide the indication of whether the state is in the valley and/orwithin an outer portion of the distribution of states as described inmore detail below.

The entropy decoding circuitry 345 can decode a first plurality of unitsof data representing a data state of a first memory cell and can decodea second plurality of units of data (different units of data)representing the same data state of a second memory cell and that astate of the memory cell is in a valley between adjacent distributionsof states associated with respective data states and/or that the stateis within an outer portion of the distribution of states associated witha data state of the memory cell. The first plurality of units of dataindicate a state that is not in the valley and/or not within an outerportion of the distribution of states.

The entropy decoding circuitry 345 can make use of a decompression tablecorrelating entropy encoded units of data and data states. In someembodiments, the decompression table can be the same as the compressiontable described herein (e.g., the compression table illustrated anddescribed with respect to FIG. 4) but used in a reverse process withrespect to compression. The decompression table can includevariable-length codes that are derived based on an estimated probabilityof the occurrence of each combination of data state and whether thestate is in a valley and/or within an outer portion of a distribution ofstates. By use of the decompression table, the controller 327 candetermine, for each memory cell 311, a data state (e.g., level 347-1, .. . , 347-P, which may comprise hard data) and indicate to thereliability calculation circuitry 351 (e.g., via indication 349-1, . . ., 349-P) whether the state of the memory cell is in a valley and/orwhether the state of the memory cell is within an outer portion of adistribution of states.

The controller 327 can include reliability calculation circuitry 351coupled to the entropy decoding circuitry 345. For example, thereliability circuitry 351 can be log-likelihood ratio (LLR) generationcircuitry. The reliability calculation circuitry 351 can generate a lowconfidence LLR for an error correction circuit 353 in response totransmission of units of data (e.g., from the entropy decoding circuitry345) corresponding to the data state indicating that the state of thememory cell is in the valley and/or within an outer portion of adistribution of states. The reliability calculation circuitry 351 cangenerate a high confidence LLR for the error correction circuit 353 inresponse to transmission of units of data corresponding to the datastate indicating that the state of the memory cell is not in the valley.

The controller 327 can include error correction circuitry 353 coupled tothe reliability calculation circuitry 351. For example, the errorcorrection circuitry 353 can be a low density parity check (LDPC)decoder configured to decode the data state using an LDPC decodingalgorithm. The error correction circuitry 353 can be configured toperform error correction for the indicated data state (e.g., todetermine if the indicated data state is correct) based on whether thestate of the memory cell is in the valley and/or within an outer portionof the distribution of states. For example, the error correctioncircuitry 353 can be configured to use an indication that the state ofthe memory cell is in the valley and/or within an outer portion of thedistribution of states as an input to a belief propagation algorithm.

This minimal additional information (e.g., the indication that the stateof the memory cell is in the valley and/or within an outer portion ofthe distribution of states) can provide dramatic performanceimprovements for the error correction circuitry 353. For example, theerror correction circuitry 353 can improve enough to correct for a rawbit error rate of 8.5×10⁻³ versus a raw bit error rate of 3.3×10⁻³ for acodeword failure rate of 1×10⁻⁵ with an 8% ECC overhead.

Although not specifically illustrated, the controller 327 can loadstatus information into a status register, which can further communicatestatus information with input/output (I/O) circuitry. Commands receivedby I/O circuitry can be latched by a command register and transferred tothe controller 327 for generating internal signals to control memorydevice 325 operations. The controller 327 can be coupled to and/orinternal to a host.

The controller 327 can decode signals provided by control connectionsfrom host circuitry. These signals can include chip signals, writeenable signals, and address latch signals that are used to control theoperations on the memory array, including data read, data write, anddata erase operations, as described herein. The control connections andthe I/O connections can be collectively referred to as a host interfacecoupling the controller 327 to the host circuitry. The controller 327can be a state machine, a sequencer, control circuitry, or some othertype of controller. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the artthat additional circuitry and control signals can be provided, and thatthe memory device detail of FIG. 3 has been reduced to facilitateillustration.

FIG. 4 illustrates a compression table 455 correlating entropy encodedunits of data and data states in accordance with a number of embodimentsof the present disclosure. The compression table 455 can be analogous toa decompression table as described herein. The first column “LEVEL”represents a data state of the memory cell. The second column “NEARVALLEY” represents whether or not the state is in the valley and/orwhether the state of the memory cell is in a valley between adjacentdistributions of states associated with respective data states and/orthat the state is within an outer portion of the distribution of statesassociated with a data state of the memory cell. The third column“ENCODING” represents a plurality of entropy encoded units of datacorresponding to the data state and whether the state is in the valleyand/or within an outer portion of the distribution of states asindicated in the same respective row. For example, the first rowincludes entropy encoded units of data “[0,0,0,0]” for data state 0 andan indication (e.g., “0”) that the state is not in the valley and/orwithin an outer portion of the distribution of states.

The compression table 455 is for memory cells that are configured tostore three units of data, where each memory cell is programmed to oneof eight data states (an eight-level system). The compression tableincludes an entry for each of 8 data states (levels 0-7) for bothinstances where the state of the memory cell is in a valley and/orwithin an outer portion of the distribution of states (1) and instanceswhere the state is not in the valley and/or within an outer portion ofthe distribution of states (0). The entropy encoding for the data statesincludes fewer units of data when the state is not in the valley and/orwithin an outer portion of the distribution of states and more entropyencoded units of data when the state is in the valley and/or within anouter portion of the distribution of states.

The entropy encoded units of data “[0,0,0]” are not used for any of theeight entropy encoded units of data associated with states not in thevalley because “0,0,0” is the prefix for those entropy encoded units ofdata indicating that the state is in the valley and/or within an outerportion of the distribution of states (e.g., “0,0,0” is the prefix for“[0,0,0,1,1,0,1]” which are the entropy encoded units of data for “level0” when the state is in the valley). Thus, the entropy encoded units ofdata for “level 0” when the state is not in the valley is “[0,0,0,0]”.Such a constraint can aid the entropy decoding circuitry (e.g., entropydecoding circuitry 345 illustrated in FIG. 3) in determining a length ofthe variable-length code comprising the entropy coded data statedeterministically (e.g., based on a lack of prefix repetition across thevariable-length entropy encoded units of data). The specific entropyencoded units of data listed in the compression table 455 are examplesand other codes or combinations of entropy encoded units of data can beused, as will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The entropy encoded units of data illustrated in the compression table455 can be transmitted by the entropy coding circuitry and can representboth the data state and whether the state of the memory cell is in thevalley and/or within an outer portion of the distribution of states. Ina number of embodiments, the entropy coding circuitry can transmit aminimum number of units of data necessary to indicate the data state ofthe memory cell and to indicate that the state of the memory cell is notin the valley and/or within an outer portion of the distribution ofstates. For example, with respect to the compression table 455, aminimum number of units of data to indicate a data state of a three-unitmemory cell is three units of data. And, only three units of data aresufficient to indicate the data state of the memory cell and to indicatethat the state of the memory cell is not in the valley and/or within anouter portion of the distribution of states for data states 1-7 in thisexample.

For a particular data state (e.g., data state “LEVEL 1”) a firstplurality of entropy encoded units of data (e.g., “[0,0,0,1,1,0,0]”) canbe transmitted corresponding to the data state in response to the statebeing in the valley and/or within an outer portion of the distributionof states (e.g., “1”). For the same particular data state (e.g., datastate “LEVEL 1”) a second plurality of entropy encoded units of data(e.g., “[0,1,1]”) can be transmitted corresponding to the data state inresponse to the state not being in the valley and/or within an outerportion of the distribution of states (e.g., “0”). According to thecompression table 455, the plurality of entropy encoded data unitsassociated with the state being in the valley and/or within an outerportion of the distribution of states (e.g., “1”) is greater (e.g., byat least two data units, for example, more than a single flag bit) thanthe plurality of entropy encoded data units associated with the statenot being in the valley and/or within an outer portion of thedistribution of states (e.g., “0”). Both the first and the secondplurality of units of data can correspond to the same data state (e.g.,“LEVEL 1”).

Although such a scheme may include at least two more units of data toindicate that the state is in the valley and/or within an outer portionof the distribution of states, overall, such a scheme can providegreater throughput at an interface. Unlike a single flag bit, whichwould be required for indication with each memory cell, the longerentropy encoded data units according to the present scheme are only usedwhen a particular memory cell stores a state that is in the valleyand/or within an outer portion of the distribution of states, which, asdescribed herein, occurs relatively infrequently. For example, withrespect to a memory device employing three-units per memory cell, a flagbit would impose a 33% throughput penalty. In contrast, a number ofembodiments of the present disclosure can achieve the same result withonly a 9.5% throughput penalty assuming that 5% of the cells storestates that are in the valley and/or within an outer portion of thedistribution of states.

FIG. 5 illustrates a tabular representation 557 of transmissions ofvarious entropy encoded units of data corresponding to various datastates and whether states stored on various memory cells are in a valleyand/or within an outer portion of the distribution of states inaccordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure. Thetop portion of the tabular representation 557 includes data states(e.g., “LEVEL”) and an indication of whether (0=no; 1=yes) the state ofeach memory cell is in the valley and/or within the outer portion of thedistribution of states for memory cells numbered 0-15. The bottomportion of the tabular representation 557 includes DQ strobes numbered0-7 showing how the entropy encoded units of data are transmitted foreach of the sixteen cells across the eight-unit wide bus.Cross-reference to FIG. 4 shows the entropy encoded units of dataassociated with each data state indicated in the tabular representation557. For example, “CELL 0” has an indication for “LEVEL 7” and “VALLEY0”, which, with cross-reference to FIG. 4 is associated with entropyencoded units of data “[0,0,1]”. Therefore, looking at “DQ[0]” for“CELL(0)” the entropy encoded units of data “0_0_1” are illustrated asthe first three units of data transmitted by “DQ[0]”. As will beappreciated, similar cross-reference can be made for each of the memorycells, data states, and “valley” indications presented in the tabularrepresentation 557.

Although more than 5% of the memory cells are indicated to store a statein a valley and/or within an outer portion of the distribution of statesin FIG. 5, this is done for illustrative purposes rather than toindicate an actual sample of data from a memory device. The tabularrepresentation 557 illustrates that different numbers of entropy encodedunits of data can be transmitted to indicate a same data state dependingon whether the state of a particular memory cell is indicated to be in avalley and/or within an outer portion of the distribution of states asdescribed herein. Furthermore, both transmission and reception of thedifferent numbers of entropy encoded units of data can occur withoutadditional indication of how many entropy encoded units of data aparticular transmission includes due to the nature of the entropyencoding scheme as described herein.

FIG. 6 is a plot illustrating codeword error rate (CWER) versus raw biterror rate (RBER) according to various approaches including at least onein accordance with a number of embodiments of the present disclosure.The hash marks on the CWER and RBER axes indicate that the plot is alog-log plot (using a logarithmic scale). This plot is comparing thecodeword failure rate of hard reads with hard inputs (e.g., first curve662 according to some previous approaches) to the ECC versus having anindication that the state of the memory cell is in the valley and/orwithin an outer portion of the distribution of states (e.g., via onesoft read as illustrated at second curve 664 according to a number ofembodiments of the present disclosure). The first curve 662 is thecodeword failure rate with hard reads/hard inputs to the ECC. The secondcurve 664 is the codeword failure rate with an indication that the stateof the memory cell is in the valley and/or within an outer portion ofthe distribution of states. The horizontal line 660 is the 1×10⁻⁵codeword error rate. Hard reads can support a codeword failure rate of1×10⁻⁵ with an RBER of 3.3×10⁻³, whereas with an indication that thestate of the memory cell is in the valley and/or within an outer portionof the distribution of states an RBER of 8.5×10⁻³ can be supported.

CONCLUSION

The present disclosure includes apparatuses and methods related tomemory cell state in a valley between adjacent data states. A number ofmethods can include determining whether a state of a memory cell is in avalley between adjacent distributions of states associated withrespective data states. The method can include transmitting a signalindicative of a data state of the memory cell and whether the state ofthe memory cell is in the valley.

Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and describedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that anarrangement calculated to achieve the same results can be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coveradaptations or variations of one or more embodiments of the presentdisclosure. It is to be understood that the above description has beenmade in an illustrative fashion, and not a restrictive one. Combinationof the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specificallydescribed herein will be apparent to those of skill in the art uponreviewing the above description. The scope of the one or moreembodiments of the present disclosure includes other applications inwhich the above structures and methods are used. Therefore, the scope ofone or more embodiments of the present disclosure should be determinedwith reference to the appended claims, along with the full range ofequivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In the foregoing Detailed Description, some features are groupedtogether in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining thedisclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted asreflecting an intention that the disclosed embodiments of the presentdisclosure have to use more features than are expressly recited in eachclaim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matterlies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus,the following claims are hereby incorporated into the DetailedDescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: sensing a memory cell to:determine a data state of the memory cell; and determine whether a stateof the memory cell is in a valley with respect to a distribution ofstates associated with the data state and a distribution of statesassociated with an adjacent data state; transmitting a first pluralityof units of data corresponding to the data state in response to thestate being in the valley, wherein the first plurality of units of datacomprise a plurality of units of data corresponding directly to the datastate and an extra unit indicating the state of the memory cell being inthe valley; and transmitting a second plurality of units of datacorresponding to the data state in response to the state not being inthe valley, wherein the second plurality of units of data comprise aplurality of units of data corresponding directly to the data state andan extra unit indicating the state of the memory cell not being in thevalley.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing the memory cellcomprises sensing the memory cell with a ramping sensing signal.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein sensing the memory cell comprises sensing thememory cell with a plurality of discrete sensing signals.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the method includes generating a low confidencelog-likelihood ratio for an error correction circuit in response to thetransmission of the first plurality of units of data.
 5. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the method includes generating a high confidencelog-likelihood ratio for an error correction circuit in response to thetransmission of the second plurality of units of data.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first plurality of units of data comprises at leasttwo more units of data than the second plurality of units of data. 7.The method of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of units of data andthe second plurality of units of data indirectly correspond to the datastate.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing comprises sensing withsensing circuitry; and wherein transmitting the first plurality of dataunits and transmitting the second plurality of data units comprisestransmitting with one of the sensing circuitry and entropy codingcircuitry.
 9. An apparatus, comprising: an array of memory cells; andcircuitry coupled to the array, wherein the circuitry is configured to:sense a memory cell of the array to: determine a data state of thememory cell; and determine whether a state of the memory cell is in avalley with respect to a distribution of states associated with the datastate and a distribution of states associated with an adjacent datastate; transmit a first plurality of units of data corresponding to thedata state in response to the state being in the valley, wherein thefirst plurality of units of data comprise a plurality of units of datacorresponding directly to the data state and an extra unit indicatingthe state of the memory cell being in the valley; and transmit a secondplurality of units of data corresponding to the data state in responseto the state not being in the valley, wherein the second plurality ofunits of data comprise a plurality of units of data correspondingdirectly to the data state and an extra unit indicating the state of thememory cell not being in the valley.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the circuitry is configured to sense the memory cell with aramping sensing signal.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thecircuitry is configured to sense the memory cell with a plurality ofdiscrete sensing signals.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thecircuitry is configured to generate a low confidence log-likelihoodratio for error correction in response to the transmission of the firstplurality of units of data.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein thecircuitry is configured to generate a high confidence log-likelihoodratio for error correction in response to the transmission of the secondplurality of units of data.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein thecircuitry includes error correction circuitry; and wherein the circuitryis configured to transmit the low confidence log-likelihood ratio or thehigh confidence log-likelihood ratio to the error correction circuitry.15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the error correction circuitry isconfigured to use a low density parity check decoding algorithm forerror correction.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the errorcorrection circuitry is configured to use an indication that the stateof the memory cell is in the valley as an input to a belief propagationalgorithm.
 17. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first plurality ofunits of data comprises at least two more units of data than the secondplurality of units of data.
 18. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thefirst plurality of units of data and the second plurality of units ofdata indirectly correspond to the data state.
 19. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the circuitry includes sensing circuitry configured to sensethe memory cell; wherein the circuitry includes entropy codingcircuitry; and wherein at least one of the sensing circuitry and theentropy coding circuitry is configured to transmit the first pluralityof data units and to transmit the second plurality of data units. 20.The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is a memory controller.